Celebrate Black History Month with Matia

Storytime with Matia

Have you seen any of Matia's storytimes? Like a lot of good ideas, it came about almost by accident. When the library staff recorded Happy in Our Skin, Matia did such a wonderful job that she was a natural choice to spotlight many of the diverse books in the library collection. When asked what storytime has meant to her, Matia states, "It has meant a lot to me to be able to read the many diverse stories that I do! Each book I have read as a part of our diverse storytime, I have related to in one way or another. From having family members with autism, to knowing my great-grandmother marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Alabama, to being constantly asked about my hair and its many styles that I put it through. Each book I have read as a part of our diverse storytime, I have related to in one way or another."

Growing Up

When asked about books as she was growing up, Matia answered: "Growing up here in the 'south' that we call Arkansas, it was rare that I read books that dealt with minorities, let alone, African- Americans that did not play into the stereotypes forced upon us from Hollywood. Ironically, it was this past March that I read an article titled '7 Casually Racist Things That White Authors Do' by Mya Nunnally. Now, while I know that this does not include every white author ever, she was able to help me put into words what I have felt since I learned how to read at the age of three. She had a statement that stuck out to me, "...during my time of reading white authors, I internalized a lot of bad things. Some of these I probably still haven’t unlearned, and they’ve hurt me in myriad ways as I grew and learned to accept myself."

What Happened Next?

Matia continues, "That discovery led me down a rabbit hole of why no one wanted to write stories with Black children and other POCs (People of Color) as main characters. I decided to break those barriers and actively find Black authors that wrote about Black children so that they too can see themselves as kings and queens. They can become superheroes and doctors, or even hold office in the White House as President or Vice President of the United States.

I cannot wait to read more stories in hopes of bringing more people to the library!"

What Is Matia Reading?

Matia's favorite series to kick off 2021 is the Tristan Strong duology by Kwame Mbalia. "As an avid reader and lover of mythology, to see a series starring an African-American teen with the folk heroes and gods of our African ancestors is truly amazing, and I love seeing it come to life in my imagination."

Matia is a Northside High School graduate and is currently a sophomore at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith studying biochemistry. She plans on becoming a pharmacist.